John REYNOLDS

(1788-1865)

REYNOLDS, John, a
Representative from Illinois; born in Montgomery County, near
Philadelphia, Pa., February 26, 1788; moved to Illinois in 1800
with his parents, who settled in the vicinity of Kaskaskia; pursued
classical studies; studied law; was admitted to the bar and
commenced practice in Cahokia, Ill., in 1812; elected a justice of
the Illinois Supreme Court in 1818; unsuccessful candidate for
election to the United States Senate in 1823; member of the State
house of representatives 1827-1829; Governor of Illinois from
December 6, 1830, to November 17, 1834, when he resigned, having
been elected to Congress; in 1832 took the field as commander of
the State militia in the Black Hawk War; elected as a Jacksonian to
the Twenty-third Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death
of Charles Slade; reelected to the Twenty-fourth Congress and
served from December 1, 1834, to March 3, 1837; unsuccessful
candidate for reelection in 1836 to the Twenty-fifth Congress;
elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh
Congresses (March 4, 1839-March 3, 1843); again a member of the
State house of representatives in 1846 and 1852 and served during
the latter term as speaker; unsuccessful candidate for election to
the State senate in 1848; unsuccessful candidate for State
superintendent of schools in 1858; engaged in newspaper work; died
in Belleville, St. Clair County, Ill., on May 8, 1865; interment in
Walnut Hill Cemetery.